H.R. 7670: Specialty Crops Reporting on Opportunities and Promotion Act of 2026

This bill, titled the Specialty Crops Reporting on Opportunities and Promotion Act of 2026, aims to enhance the understanding of the competitive position of U.S. specialty crops in international markets. It proposes to amend the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to mandate the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, to produce an annual report on the competitiveness of U.S. exports of specialty crops.

Key Components of the Bill

• Annual Reporting Requirement: The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a yearly report to Congress that provides details on the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crop exports.
• Identification of Barriers: The report must identify and analyze foreign policies or practices that act as significant barriers to U.S. specialty crop exports. These may include:
• Tariffs, including retaliatory tariffs and quotas.
• Nontariff barriers, such as technical regulations, sanitary measures, import licensing, and subsidies.
• Impact Estimation: The report should estimate how identified barriers impact the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crop exports. It should also assess the potential additional export value that could be realized if these barriers were removed.
• Assessment of International Agreements: The report will evaluate whether the identified barriers are subject to any international agreements to which the United States is a signatory.
• Executive Branch Actions: It should include information on any actions taken or expected to be taken by the executive branch to eliminate these barriers, which might involve negotiations, actions under trade laws, or involvement with the World Trade Organization (WTO).
• Funding Information: The report must detail any unutilized funds from the previous fiscal year and the reasons for not using those funds.

Public Involvement

Prior to constituting the report, the Secretary must seek comments from the public and relevant agricultural advisory committees. This feedback will be taken into account during the report's preparation, ensuring that various stakeholders can contribute their insights and concerns.

Report Format and Accessibility

• The report will be submitted in an unclassified format but can include a classified annex if necessary.
• The unclassified portion of the report must be made publicly available in a machine-readable format, enhancing transparency and accessibility of the information.

Relevant Companies

None found